Asia Times Online
News and business analysis from Asia



India braces for surge in terror (May 14)
The string of eight bomb blasts in the Indian tourist city of Jaipur on Tuesday, in which 80 people were killed, was preceded by a cross-border flareup with Pakistan after years of relative calm. The two incidents are believed to be connected, with fears in intelligence circles of more attacks on Indian cities to come. In Delhi, though, beyond the usual knee-jerk reaction, politicians do not appear to see any problem. - Sudha Ramachandran (May 14, '08)


No foreigners, no cameras for Myanmar (May 14)
The Myanmar junta is attempting to keep the death and devastation caused by Cyclone Nagris from the public and give the impression, locally and internationally, it has relief efforts under control - no foreigners and no cameras in the affected areas, please. As for foreign cash donations and aid in kind, it should be given directly to the generals. (May 14, '08)


CAMPAIGN OUTSIDER : Death watching Clinton in her backyard (May 14)
She may be the two-term senator from New York, but United States Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton just doesn't get one of the key rules of being a real New Yorker. - Muhammad Cohen (May 14, '08)


Turkey combines dialogue with bullets (May 14)
In a significant change of policy, Turkey has held high-level talks with the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq in an attempt to isolate Kurdish rebels based in northern Iraq. Both Ankara and the regional government recognize the benefits - especially trade - of working closer together, but Turkey's military option is still very much alive. (May 14, '08)


China, Korea: More nationalist than thou (May 14)
South Korea got an up-close view of China's new-found nationalism when Chinese protesters came out en masse for the Seoul leg of the Olympic torch relay. South Korea had its own patriotic upsurge ahead of the 1988 Games, but the neighbors continue to brand the other's acts as more excessive and upsetting. - Sunny Lee (May 14, '08)


Bush quick onto Lebanon blame-game (May 14)
President George W Bush, on tour in the Middle East, has pledged continued United States support for the Lebanese government following its clashes with the Shi'ite Hezbollah militia. Bush makes no secret of his belief that Iran is behind the recent troubles. Others, though, point a finger at Washington. (May 14, '08)


COMMENT : Blair's Christian 'challenge' to the East (May 14)
Former British premier Tony Blair, who recently converted to Catholicism, apparently believes his or other Christian faiths should underpin the West in meeting the challenges from the East. But people such as Blair should start taking the "East" more seriously, and the coming Group of Eight summit in July could be an opportunity for Europeans to start calling democratic Asians "we" rather than "they". - Masayuki Tadokoro (May 14, '08)


Indonesia gets into hot water (May 14)
Sitting on a belt of volcanic activity has its upside for Indonesia, which after a decade-long lull looks set to develop the archipelago's potential for producing power from subsurface heat. That will help the fast-growing country keep its skies clear. The environmental benefits will also help oil-giant Chevron earn credits to offset the filth it produces elsewhere. - Andrew Symon


Nepal goes on China rail map (May 14)
Nepal, long dependant on India for its links with the rest of the world, will soon be tied into the Chinese rail network. The gains to the small landlocked state are clear, while the route will bring Indian ports and markets much closer to Beijing. All that is needed for cross-Himalayan trade to thrive is a sea-change in New Delhi's laggardly approach to building infrastructure on its side of the mountains. - Sudha Ramachandran


Seed giants see gold in climate change (May 14)
Monsanto, BASF and other developers of genetically modified crops are looking to patent changes in plants that help them survive better in the world's changing climate. But the crop developments may lead to higher bills for farmers as they become forced use a proprietary biotech platform.